If you've ever handed a child a phone and immediately regretted it, Pinwheel was built for you. Founded in 2019 by entrepreneur and dad Dane Witbeck, Pinwheel offers purpose-built smartphones and smartwatches for kids ages 8–18 that give children the communication tools they want — calling, texting, camera, curated apps — while blocking social media, open internet browsing, and stranger contact entirely.^1
What sets Pinwheel apart is its Caregiver Portal, a parent dashboard (available on iOS and Android) that puts you firmly in control.^2 You approve every contact, enable only the apps you choose from a library of over 1,000 expert-vetted options, schedule when apps and contacts are available throughout the day, and remotely monitor text messages — all without taking the phone from your child's hands.^3 The system is designed to grow with your family: as your child demonstrates responsibility, you expand their digital freedom step by step.^1
Pinwheel partners with well-known hardware brands like Samsung, Motorola, and Google Pixel, so kids get a phone that looks and feels like a "real" phone — not a toy.^1 Their newest additions include a kid-safe smartwatch with GPS tracking and PinwheelGPT, a parent-monitored AI chat app powered by ChatGPT that lets kids ask homework and curiosity questions safely.^4 In 2025, Pinwheel also launched a Multiple Caregivers mode, making it the only kids' phone designed for co-parenting households where rules need to travel between homes.^5
Why Parents Love It"Having tried about 10 other programs (we have 6 kids) it was amazing to find Pinwheel. This phone finally gives the right amount of oversight and flexibility." — Brandon Monahan^1
"Pinwheel is an incredibly secure, customizable phone solution for families. It gave my kids exactly the tools I wanted them to have, and it has proven unhackable by teen and preteen peers." — Amy Graydon^1
"As a psychologist and parent, I have been so impressed with the apps availability, I love that they can't get on social media apps, and I have found Pinwheel customer service to be highly responsive." — Pinwheel parent review^6
Notable- Featured in The New York Times, TechCrunch, and honored by SafeWise Kids Safety Awards for best selection of phones for kids^3
- Developed with guidance from a board of licensed therapists^7
- Launched in the UK in late 2025, expanding beyond the US and Canada^8
- Phone recycling program offers $50 credit when parents trade in old devices^3
- Upcoming Pinwheel Home — a screen-free, voice-calls-only family phone — set to launch in April 2026^9
